Chinese Immigration Acts - Brandon, Manitoba, Canada - Civil Rights Memorials on Waymarking.com

Chinese Immigration Acts
Head Tax 1885 - 1923 and Exclusion 1923 - 1947
From 1885 - 1923, the Canadian government severely restricted and then effectively eliminated the immigration of Chinese to Canada. A "Head Tax" of $50 for Chinese immigrants entering Canada was imposed effective January 1, 1886. The amount was increased to $100 in 1900, and to $500 in 1903. Between 1885 and 1924, 82,380 Chinese immigrants entering Canada paid $22.5 million in head taxes. The tax made it nearly impossible for Chinese men to bring their wives, children or parents to Canada. On July 1, 1923, called "Humiliation Day" by Chinese Canadians, a new Chinese Immigration Act virtually excluded Chinese immigration to Canada, and legalized the inferior status of Chinese already in the country. Special permits were allowed, but qualifications were so stringent that only eight Chinese immigrants were admitted to Canada between 1924 and 1946. Although the Act was repealed in May 1947, remaining restrictions on Chinese immigration were not removed completely until 1967. In June 2006, The Government of Canada apologized to Chinese Canadians for the head tax and exclusion legislation.

Civil Right Type: National Origin

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Date Logged Log User Rating   05/05/2022 The Burrow visited it